Memory Lane: Patricia Murphy's....

See as we're on a sort of NY nostalgia trip, does anyone remember Patricia Murphy's Restaurant? I believe it was in Westchester just past the Bronx line (my family used to take the subway and a taxi before we owned a car). There may have also been a Manhattan branch, but I am referring to the one "in the country". It was the qunitessential special event family restaurant, and first on my list for Big Celebrations (like my grade school graduation).

I recall the restaurant had some sort of greenhouse and beautiful gardens with a pond and/or wishing well. They served traditional meals, especially roast beef and heavenly POPOVERS!

See as we're on a sort of NY nostalgia trip, does anyone remember Patricia Murphy's Restaurant? I believe it was in Westchester just past the Bronx line (my family used to take the subway and a taxi before we owned a car). There may have also been a Manhattan branch, but I am referring to the one "in the country". It was the qunitessential special event family restaurant, and first on my list for Big Celebrations (like my grade school graduation).

I recall the restaurant had some sort of greenhouse and beautiful gardens with a pond and/or wishing well. They served traditional meals, especially roast beef and heavenly POPOVERS!

The Sterns devoted part of a chapter to Patricia Murphy's in their "Square Meals" book and included some recipes either from or inspired by her and said establishment. Check it out, if you're able. There's "Lemon Soup", "Victor's All-White Salad Platter", "Hawaiian Chicken and Pineapple Curry", "Coffee Pearadise" and "Patricia Murphy's Popovers." Bon appetit!

A little Googling reveals that Patricia Murphy's Candlelight had branches in Manhasset (or maybe Roslyn), Brooklyn Heights and Ft. Lauderdale, as well as the Manhattan store (on Madison Avenue, I think). I don't know about the Westchester store.

(The Manhasset store) The Club House later became the popular “Antlers” meeting place for the Elks - although it was a popular meeting hall for every social affair. In 1943 it was used by the Congregational Church members, then became Patricia Murphy’s Candlelight Restaurant after 1949, and finally a steakhouse until it was demolished to make way for the new Benihana Restaurant at that site today.

Patricia Murphy's was in Pound Ridge, Westchester county, NY and the signature item was popovers. To our unsophisticated palates of the 1950's the place was the epitome of fine dining - and, as I recall, the meals were pretty good and substantial in a traditional American way (with exotic items like the curry available for the adventurous as someone mentioned). Kind of like Shrafft's in the country.

By the early 50's we had abandoned Murphy's for Rebers, famous for its steaks, in either Hawthorn or Ardsley - on the Saw Mill River Parkway, if memory serves

As a young person, in the early 50’s, I really liked Patricia Murphy’s Candlelight Restaurant. They served a good American menu. Everything from soup to desert was included in their base price. They also gave an option of a cream de menthe or a crème de cocoa in lieu of desert. I liked that very much as I grew old enough to partake, because I was usually too full of those fantastic popovers to even look at desert.

We went to the Manhasset site most of the time. There was also one in Brooklyn. Visited there once or twice but didn’t enjoy it as much. I never did go to the Yonkers/Westchester branch (it came later on) but heard very good things about it.The early American atmosphere and the extensive gardens, of the LI restaurant, really complemented that menu. The view from the parking lot suggested that it had once been a nursery.

There was also a Lorraine Murphy’s, I think on The Island, in the 50’s. Heard that Patrica’s sister ran it. Don’t know if that was really the case.

Yes, creme de menthe! I never realized that Patricia Murphy's was a "chain." It's good to see so many fond memories here! I wonder if they are similar lovely restaurants around, especially with gardens.

Gasho in Central Valley, Orange County, NY has (or had, havn't been there in years) a beautiful Japanese garden. the place was a lot of fun about 20 years ago . but it wore out over time; they were the first place around here that cooked the food at the hot table with a lot of flashing knives and flipping food.

Mohonk Mountain House here in New Paltz has magnificent gardens - $45 bucks gets you lunch and the use of the grounds for a day.

Thanks very much to Skeaya for posting the photos of Patricia Murphy's. Those pics jogged my memory and I instantly recognized the place - but what the Hell was it doing in Yonkers when I was absolutely certain that it was in Pound Ridge -all the way across the county? In fact, I had stated very positively in a message on August 20 that it was in Pound Ridge. Well, I learned today from a friend who lives not far from Pound Ridge that I had Patricia Murphy's confused with an equally famous restaurany called Emily Shaw's. Just another "senior moment", I guess...Does anyone remember Emily Shaw's - I think it was a cut above Patricia Murphy's? My friend tells me that there is still a restaurant in that grand old house.

I have 5 menus from Patricia Murphys in Yonkers...my grandma took a menu from EVERY restaurant they ate at from the mid 60's up until early 90's..so she has a whole box of memories for me. Sometimes we go thru the box and cant believe the prices...the restaurants are all in southern CT and westchester NY

Patricia Murphy's was on Central Ave about 3 miles north of the Yonkers Raceway, 5 miles from the Yonkers/Bronx border. I had my Communion dinner there in 1966. Wow, what memories.

My dad was the Manager and Band Leader at Tropical Acres Restaurant midway between Patricia Murphy's and the Raceway also on CEntral Ave. They were the 2 hottest Restauranas in Yonkers for a long time. Tropical Acres clesed in 1976 and Patricia Murphy's a few years before that

If your Grandmother has any of the menu's from Tropical Acres, I would be very interested.

I remember going to her restaurant in Ft. Lauderdale in the late 70's. My host purchased her book "Glow of Candlelight" which he gave me as a memento of our evening there. It is her autobiography and very interesting, but most of the recipes are quite dull by today's standards for fine dining.

When I was a little girl, my Mom and Dad brought me to Patricia Murphy's for special occasions. We'd dress up - Mom in her mink stole and long gloves, Dad in suit and tie, the girls in dresses with maddengly itchy crenoline slips, tights and pinchy patent leather shoes.

I remember the delicious popovers, the white linens on the tables, candles, learning how to behave "like a lady" in a restaurant. I still have a little tiny, round cardboard tube with a couple of glass ampules of Patricia Murphy's lily of the valley perfume!!

What lovely memories of a genteel meal to celebrate birthdays, wedding anniversaries and other occasions. I'm only 49 yrs old, but forgive me for complaining that is very hard to feel like you're celebrating a special occasion when the people at the next table are wearing jeans and t-shirts and their children are running around the dining room annoying other diners. It's nice to have a couple of restaurants where special still means special.

Does anyone here remember Cornetta's Lobster Restaurant (maybe "Seafood" rather than "Lobster")? The whole family worked there, the seafood was scrumptious.

When I was a little girl, my Mom and Dad brought me to Patricia Murphy's for special occasions. We'd dress up - Mom in her mink stole and long gloves, Dad in suit and tie, the girls in dresses with maddengly itchy crenoline slips, tights and pinchy patent leather shoes.

I remember the delicious popovers, the white linens on the tables, candles, learning how to behave "like a lady" in a restaurant. I still have a little tiny, round cardboard tube with a couple of glass ampules of Patricia Murphy's lily of the valley perfume!!

What lovely memories of a genteel meal to celebrate birthdays, wedding anniversaries and other occasions. I'm only 49 yrs old, but forgive me for complaining that is very hard to feel like you're celebrating a special occasion when the people at the next table are wearing jeans and t-shirts and their children are running around the dining room annoying other diners. It's nice to have a couple of restaurants where special still means special.

Does anyone here remember Cornetta's Lobster Restaurant (maybe "Seafood" rather than "Lobster")? The whole family worked there, the seafood was scrumptious.

Linda

I'm not familiar with Cornetta's, but I love your rememberance of visits to Patricia Murphy's.

See as we're on a sort of NY nostalgia trip, does anyone remember Patricia Murphy's Restaurant?

Oh, I was just thinking about past Christmas memories and googled the resturant name finding this forum.

I grew up in Hartsdale, NY and every year my family had reservations on Christmas Eve at Patricia Murphy's. We would go out to a theatre and see The Sound of Music (My father's favorite movie) and then we'd go to eat.

The most wonderous thing for a child who adored animals and was pet deprived was the "Living Nativity" scene complete with live sheep and other animals. One year it snowed so much we were the last one to see the animals as they had to stable them earlier...

I remember they also had a gift shop at the resturant and one year I received a rearing horse that had pinto colored hair on it that was made with cow hide. I saw it in the shop and my father went back after we got in the car (saying he left something in the resturant) and surprised me on Christmas Day.

Patricia Murphy's was a very "grown up" experience. I especially remember the popovers. It was the only time we were allowed to get "prime rib" (which melted in your mouth) and for our birthday's we would get "the queen's cut"... The waiters and waitresses always talked to us like we were grownups, asking us for our order and if we were enjoying our meal...

See as we're on a sort of NY nostalgia trip, does anyone remember Patricia Murphy's Restaurant?

Oh, I was just thinking about past Christmas memories and googled the resturant name finding this forum.

I grew up in Hartsdale, NY and every year my family had reservations on Christmas Eve at Patricia Murphy's. We would go out to a theatre and see The Sound of Music (My father's favorite movie) and then we'd go to eat.

The most wonderous thing for a child who adored animals and was pet deprived was the "Living Nativity" scene complete with live sheep and other animals. One year it snowed so much we were the last one to see the animals as they had to stable them earlier...

I remember they also had a gift shop at the resturant and one year I received a rearing horse that had pinto colored hair on it that was made with cow hide. I saw it in the shop and my father went back after we got in the car (saying he left something in the resturant) and surprised me on Christmas Day.

Patricia Murphy's was a very "grown up" experience. I especially remember the popovers. It was the only time we were allowed to get "prime rib" (which melted in your mouth) and for our birthday's we would get "the queen's cut"... The waiters and waitresses always talked to us like we were grownups, asking us for our order and if we were enjoying our meal...

These memories are from about 1964 to 1969 or so.

DawnFirst Light

Thanks for your comments! Yes, "times have changed": I have a 13 yr. old daughter and we couldn't probably do anything like Patricia Murphy's these days. First of all, I wouldn't know where go and second, she'd only wear the same jeans she wears everyday, no "dress up"/"grown up" stuff.

It was so special at PM's around the holidays. Soemhow I just get glimpses of peppermint and snow sparkles!

When I was 10 yrs. old the best birthday I rememebr was convincing my mother to let me take a few best friends "way up" (from Brooklyn to Westchester) for a meal at PM.I felt like a "queen"! (?princess?). Proabaly today I'd go to a rock concert or something!!! (orf maybe the decadent American Girl shop on 5th Ave, depending on my maturity)

hi there...if i were more computer savvy I would scan in my MENUS from patricia murphys. I was too young to go but my grandma has menus from every restaurant she has eaten at. And her and my "bubby" would go there for lunch. They are all in a box. When she is gone it will be one of my most prized possesions.TW

This site is amazing. Great info. Patricia Murphy was my father's sister-in-law. He managed her Madison Avenue and Westchester restaurants for years before we moved to Florida (c1975) so he could run her Bahia Mar restaurant in Fort Lauderdale and the Cascades in Deerfield Beach. They ended up in a legal dispute where he proportedly took control of the company from her and, unfortunately, ran it into bankruptcy within a few years. I am researching these things now for a historical novel. Anyone with info on this topic or remembrances, please contact me or post here. A small reward may be available. My father's name was John Rogers. Thanks.

This site is amazing. Great info. Patricia Murphy was my father's sister-in-law. He managed her Madison Avenue and Westchester restaurants for years before we moved to Florida (c1975) so he could run her Bahia Mar restaurant in Fort Lauderdale and the Cascades in Deerfield Beach. They ended up in a legal dispute where he proportedly took control of the company from her and, unfortunately, ran it into bankruptcy within a few years. I am researching these things now for a historical novel. Anyone with info on this topic or remembrances, please contact me or post here. A small reward may be available. My father's name was John Rogers. Thanks.

What fun to read that so many people share such fond childhood memories associated with a single restaurant. I went to the Yonkers location at Christmas time in the '60's, and it is one of my treasured memories with my grandmother and mother. I remember the live animal nativity outside in the front of the restuarant and even more exciting for a little girl, the Princess sitting on a throne as you entered. I too recall the excellent popovers and Shirley Temples. I logged in to let you all know that there is a Patricia Murphy's cookbook out there. I saw one, perhaps ten years (perhaps more) ago at a used bookstore in connecticut called Whitlock's Bookbarn. I went there recently and they did not have it, but, it is out there somewhere.